Olympics

Playoff Coverage

Soccer

Colts 101 provides 24/7 obsessive sports coverage of the Indianapolis Colts as a part of Sports Media 101. For news,
op/ed, game reviews, team updates and even rumors you will find all of it on Colts 101. Have an opinion - join
the discussion and drop a comment. If it's about the Colts, it's on Colts 101.

Maxwell Club Names Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians Coach of the Year

January 16th, 2013 at 1:07 PM By Chuck Chapman

The prestigious Maxwell Football Club has announced that they will honor Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians with their professional Coach of the Year award, the Greasy Neale Award.

In their first season in Indianapolis, Head Coach Chuck Pagano and Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach Bruce Arians guided the Colts through difficult circumstances to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance.

Pagano, who was named the team’s head coach on January 25, 2012, was on the sidelines for the Colts’ first three games of the 2012 season before announcing in September of 2012 that he had been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Pagano also announced he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team, a period in which he underwent three rounds of chemotherapy to fight off the cancer.

During Pagano’s absence, the Colts organization was inspired by his fight and showed their support by beginning a campaign called “CHUCKSTRONG.” In addition to showing their support for Pagano and his family, the purpose of the campaign was to raise money for leukemia research. About 30 players and coaches and two cheerleaders shaved their heads while Pagano underwent treatment.

During the emotional period for the Colts organization, Bruce Arians took over as the team’s interim head coach. The Colts went 9-3 with Arians at the helm, earning a playoff berth with a Week 16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pagano returned to the team on December 24 after a three-month absence and took the field as head coach of the Colts for their regular season-ending victory and first round playoff matchup. Together, Pagano and Arians led a Colts’ turnaround that included a 9-game improvement over the team’s league-worst 2-14 record in 2011.

Pagano and Arians will be honored along with other professional and collegiate award winners at the Maxwell Club's annual banquet on March 1, 2013.